I got to watch a bit of the first half and all of the second half, we sat back and absorbed looking to counter. Dest did a great job on the right handling the speed of Ghana as did Gloster on the left. Durkin stepped in to the middle and had a great game. True hero was Garces in goal, kid has natural instincts and great positioning. Akinola subed in for Weah who looked a little pedestrian with not controlling possession. I don't know if Ghana were expecting his sort of pace and size but he was able to manhandle their left back. Sargent and Carleton did a good job of high pressure as usual which I think forced them to stick in a bit through the middle and not get as many numbers forward for crosses. Overall good showing around the perimeters, mids were a little late getting back doubling down on players but really a good job!

db707

Post #17

Monday October 9, 2017 3:29pm

Joined Oct 2013
Total Posts: 456

Thanks for the report, PortCityFan. Good to see our young players doing well.

navi8132New York

Post #18

Monday October 9, 2017 5:19pm

Joined Jul 2012
Total Posts: 2,854

Good game.

I was proven wrong with my prediction about Ghana. The first half, their attack was impotent and their defense was poor. The second half, they finally made good use of their speed, especially raging down the right flank almost getting several goals.

My thoughts on the USA's coach Hackworth. For that entire game it was quite clear there wasn't a single player on the field who could give Sargent or Weah proper service. Carleton was on the left wing and he's not really a "crosser" kind of winger, and he wasn't providing much service to Sargent when cutting inside. That's unfortunate, but the team's major problem IMO was Blaine Ferri. That's two games now where Ferri just can't provide service. Coach should have subbed him out and brought on an effective creator George Acosta.

Also coach made bizarre choice of subbing out Ajax youth player Sergino Dest (rightback) who was one of the best 22 players on that pitch, fast, defended well, and was a wily dribbler. Dest was a better RB than Lindsey, but Dest got subbed out and Lindsey pushed over to RB from CB and we got a new CB in the game in Watts.

The best American today was by far Chris Durkin at DM role. Magnificent.

Sargent was not that lively only because of a lack of service, but he was fantastic in his hold up play, his layoffs, and his general intelligent decision making.

Weah was often out wide almost as a right winger and was not good out there. He too got no service, and he didn't provide any good service when he was out wide. He needs to be closer to the goal or not on the field at all.

Goslin was solid. Carleton was overall solid in the first half, then in the second half he got tired in that sweltering heat and started making poor decisions (then got subbed out).

Sands had a good game at CB. Garces made good saves and good decisions with his positioning.

Gloster at LB spent some of the 2nd half getting torn for speed by the Ghana forwards, but did a good job overall limiting chances.

Saw the whole game and well impresive defense from the team. They defended and well as you have asked for. Only reason Ghana created chances was because of their speed and maybe a a few 2nd balls challenges being lost but other than that the team keeping an african team at 0 with that kind of speed is always telling.
On the other side of the field our attack struggled more specifically the wingers. The CMs couldnt create much chances, apart from the goal an sporatic chances. Anyways good to have Akinola, Weah and Carleton to rotate around. Akinola should have had 2 he came in and ran through them.

For colombia am assuming we rest a few pieces.

skanglesDC

Post #20

Tuesday October 10, 2017 4:02am

Joined Jan 2013
Total Posts: 5,313

One of the moments I'll remember from this tournament was Garces' inch perfect kick save followed by Durkin's inch perfect kick save on the rebound. It should have been a certain goal for Ghana. Sure, Durkin got out muscled on the first shot but he more than redeemed himself on the second effort.

I also smashed the table at least three times as Ferri just narrowly missed the frame. He was so close to scoring all game.

Rey Regicide

Post #21

Tuesday October 10, 2017 12:42pm

Joined Sep 2013
Total Posts: 1,978

Damn... I'm clearly a biased man with biases

I will remember the 4 3 3 working for the most part.(first time for a US team?).. Ghana trying to press in the first half on our left side, then our guys putting together 5 passes in like 3 seconds to get out. And some of that in the second half...

also the carlton backheel to Sargent who then backheeled back to him...

I don't know if any of this is Hackworth's doing, but I like it.

dolcem

Post #22

Tuesday October 10, 2017 10:26pm

Joined Nov 2012
Total Posts: 1,777

So if we tie or beat Colombia, we top the group, and I will be able to see us play again in Mumbai. If not, Thursday is the only time I'll get to see them.

I've been looking forward to this game for weeks. But now I have to decide between going to the game and going on a date. We were supposed to meet on Wednesday but her brother came and visited her as a surprise and so she's busy. I have plans on Friday and Sunday that I can't miss, and she has plans on Saturday, and the following week is Diwali, which is like Indian Thanksgiving and everyone goes home to see their families, so it's basically Thursday or never. I mean I can hope for a drunken rendezvous on Saturday but that's leaving it up to chance. The worst part is we could have easily met on Tuesday and this wouldn't have happened, but I usually play pick-up soccer on Tuesdays so I said Wednesday.

What do you guys do when you have a conflict between USNT fandom and "real life?"

GET A CLUB TEAM

PortCityFanLouisiana

Post #23

Tuesday October 10, 2017 10:32pm

Joined Jul 2013
Total Posts: 176

Take her with you on thursday, you'll find out real quick if she's a keeper

navi8132New York

Post #24

Tuesday October 10, 2017 10:35pm

Joined Jul 2012
Total Posts: 2,854

I don't know what time the game is in India timezone, but couldn't you just have a 10AM brunch picnic date (then back to your place), then go to game after? Sort of "Have your curry and eat it too."

Know Nothing

Post #25

Tuesday October 10, 2017 10:38pm

Joined Jan 2013
Total Posts: 1,275

Original post from dolcem

What do you guys do when you have a conflict between USNT fandom and "real life?"

hmmm... to paraphrase the movie 'Summer Catch"...the youth WC happens every other year. The right woman, maybe once in a lifetime. Granted Freddie Prinze Jr. was talking about Jessica Biel, but I think the message is valid.

db707

Post #26

Tuesday October 10, 2017 11:44pm

Joined Oct 2013
Total Posts: 456

Original post from Know Nothing

hmmm... to paraphrase the movie 'Summer Catch"...the youth WC happens every other year. The right woman, maybe once in a lifetime. Granted Freddie Prinze Jr. was talking about Jessica Biel, but I think the message is valid.

Jessica Biel was stunning in that movie. Dolcem, go on the date. I have a possible conflict between work and the U.S. this evening, a vendor is arriving extremely late with important items I need to review and approve. I told them I don't care what hour it is here, if they arrive during the game they are going to have to wait for me, at least until halftime (or if they arrive in the second half, the final whistle).

chris_thebassplayerSan Jose

Post #27

Wednesday October 11, 2017 2:05am

Joined May 2013
Total Posts: 1,343

Original post from dolcem

So if we tie or beat Colombia, we top the group, and I will be able to see us play again in Mumbai. If not, Thursday is the only time I'll get to see them.

I've been looking forward to this game for weeks. But now I have to decide between going to the game and going on a date. We were supposed to meet on Wednesday but her brother came and visited her as a surprise and so she's busy. I have plans on Friday and Sunday that I can't miss, and she has plans on Saturday, and the following week is Diwali, which is like Indian Thanksgiving and everyone goes home to see their families, so it's basically Thursday or never. I mean I can hope for a drunken rendezvous on Saturday but that's leaving it up to chance. The worst part is we could have easily met on Tuesday and this wouldn't have happened, but I usually play pick-up soccer on Tuesdays so I said Wednesday.

What do you guys do when you have a conflict between USNT fandom and "real life?"

Is this a real question?....go on the date, my friend.

2toneTen-Towns

Post #28

Wednesday October 11, 2017 4:57am

Joined Jul 2012
Total Posts: 9,417

Get behind this team! You will see many of these kids in the USMNT very soon.

navi8132New York

Post #29

Wednesday October 11, 2017 4:59am

Joined Jul 2012
Total Posts: 2,854

All that matters is the U-17's now. That's all we have. U-20 world cup is over, they did alright. Palmer-Brown at CB, Brooks Lennon at RW, and Josh Sargent at ST could be taken from that.

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